Finance & Accounting

Transcription

1 Programme Specification (Master s Level) MSc Finance & Accounting This document provides a definitive record of the main features of the programme and the learning outcomes that a typical student may reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if s/he takes full advantage of the learning opportunities provided. This programme specification is primarily intended as a reference point for academic and support staff involved in delivering the programme and enabling student development and achievement, for its assessment by internal and external examiners, and in subsequent monitoring and review. Programme Information Award MSc Programme Title Programme code Awarding Institution Teaching Institution Faculty Department Mode and Period of Study Cohort Entry Points Relevant QAA Benchmark Statement(s) and/or other external reference points Finance & Accounting N302 Imperial College London Imperial College London Imperial College Business School Imperial College Business School 1 calendar year full-time (12 months) Annually in September Master s Awards in Business & Management Total Credits ECTS: 90 CATS: 180 FHEQ Level EHEA Level External Accreditor(s) Level 7 - Master s 2 nd cycle AMBA, EQUIS, AACSB International Specification Details Student cohorts covered by specification 2015/16 Responsible Officer Veronica Russell Teaching & Quality Manager Date of introduction of programme 09/2014 Date of programme specification/revision 08/2015 Description of Programme Contents The programme is run by Imperial College Business School and is a one-year full-time programme. The financial world s demand for innovation has always been intense. Today, as the international markets Page 1 of 12

2 become increasingly complex, the need for understanding advanced systems and sophisticated financial instruments has never been greater. Success in these markets calls for intellectual rigour. Against this background, the MSc in Finance and Accounting equips its students to meet the contemporary challenges and enjoy the rewarding career opportunities offered by a dynamic industry. It provides a very broad range of skills which will equip the students for exciting careers which require both a thorough technical foundation and an understanding of the more practical aspects of designing a strategy and managing the finances and risk of a business. The programme commences in September with examinations taking place at the end of each term. Eight of the programme s taught units are compulsory and are taken in the first two terms. In addition, each student takes four elective modules, which are taught in the spring and summer terms. Examinations in the relevant compulsory core modules take place directly at the end of the term in which they are taught. The elective modules comprise of 27 hours of lectures each and are normally examined directly at the end of the term in which they are taught. Students also devote the summer term and the normal summer vacation period to working on their Applied Project. Students are assessed by an individual Applied Project of 3,000 words and a short presentation. Students on approved internships may, with permission from the Programme Director, be allowed to write a report which incorporates their learning from their work placement. As an alternative to the Applied Project, students can, with permission from the Programme Director, write an individual research project which is an original piece of work not exceeding 10,000 words. Students who complete a research project will be required to take one less elective. The research project is particularly suited to those students wanting to do a PhD after their MSc programme. In addition there are on-line interactive modules as follows: an Accounting Primer module, an Ethics & Professional Standards module and an Introduction to Finance module (all of which students must pass successfully). These modules do not, however, contribute to the calculation of the final award. September (Term 0) The Programme commences in September with a 4-week foundation term. Foundation modules are: Accounting & Valuation, Markets & Securities, Financial Modelling, Application of Matlab for Finance and The Finance Industry. Modules are assessed by coursework and end of term tests which students must pass successfully but which do not contribute to the calculation of the final award Autumn Term Students are taught core modules: Investments & Portfolio Management, Corporate Strategy, Advanced Financial Accounting, Corporate Finance and Financial Econometrics. There are coursework assignments for each of the core modules which are submitted during the term. All modules are examined in the final week of the autumn term. Spring Term Students are taught core modules: Derivatives, Management Accounting and Advanced Corporate Finance. There are coursework assignments for each of these modules with exams at the end of term. Students who have chosen one of the following electives will be taught in the Spring Term: International Finance, Insurance, Advanced Financial Statistics, and Private Equity and Venture Capital*. Students choosing to take the individual research project are required to submit their Project Topic form this term and are subsequently allocated a supervisor. Exams for spring term modules take place in the last week of term. Summer Term The electives that are taught in the summer term are: International, Corporate Strategy & Dynamic Competition*, Financial Crises: Regulation and Ethics, Real Estate Investments*, Structured Credit and Equity Products, Mergers and Acquisitions*, Enterprise Risk Management, Corporate Law & Corporate Tax Strategy*. Exams for summer electives take place in the last week of term. Modules marked * are key electives students must take a minimum of 2 key electives. Page 2 of 11

3 Students also work on their individual project reports in the non-teaching months of July and August or write an Applied Project. Individual Research Projects should be intellectually demanding studies that develop students problem solving abilities and technical facility. Good projects will exhibit originality and clear technical expertise. The Project allows students to develop an area of specialised knowledge of particular personal interest to them within the broad range of subjects covered in the taught modules they have just completed. Learning Outcomes Educational Aims/ Objectives of the Programme The programme aims to provide a balance of professional, quantitative and analytic skills that will enable the student to choose from a wide variety of careers from management consultancy to the financial sector. Possible roles include: an advisory or executive role in an equity research department or capital markets group; a specialist within a treasury department of a large corporate; intermediation with small and medium sized business in retail banking. Students who complete the programme successfully will be able to: Understand how financial accounts are prepared and used in decision making, particularly capital budgeting and valuation. Have a strong grasp of the legal and regulatory environment in which both non-financial and financial corporates operate. Be able to formulate a corporate strategy and where necessary support these ideas with a detailed priced proposal. Demonstrate a critical awareness of fundamental finance theories and models and their use and context in real financial markets. Be able to use the above models to look at funding solutions and managing corporate risk. Apply mathematical tools to financial problems including the pricing of financial instruments and products. Analyse economic and financial data and evaluate investment decisions students should be able to apply econometric theory and software to draw valid conclusions. The programme provides opportunities for postgraduate students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas: A Knowledge & Understanding of: 1. The practice of management accounting in corporate decision making and the aims and design of a corporate strategy. 2. How to prepare financial statements and to use the information for both investment decision making and valuation. 3. The fundamental ideas in finance which include: expected utility, risk aversion, mean variance portfolio analysis, two fund separation, efficient markets and risk management. 4. Futures and option pricing and interest rate models. 5. The core knowledge base including the essential facts, concepts, principles and theories relevant to the chosen area of specialisation. Acquisition of A1 to A5 is through a combination of lectures, seminars, group work, coursework and examinations both in the core modules and electives. Acquisition of A4 is through the elective modules and the full-time, individual, supervised Research Project or Applied Project. Throughout the programme, students are encouraged to undertake independent research both to supplement and consolidate what is being taught/ learnt and to broaden their individual knowledge and understanding of Page 3 of 11

4 the subject. Use is made of case studies and class discussions to complement formal lecture input. Assessment of the knowledge base is through a combination of unseen written examinations and assessed coursework, individual and group reports (in some options modules) and the individual Research Project or Applied Project. Skills and other attributes B Intellectual (thinking) skills able to: 1. Analyse and evaluate financial models using a wide range of appropriate techniques and assess their empirical validity. 2. Prepare and use quantitative financial data to make valuation estimates. 3. Analyse both corporate financial and strategic decision making and assess a company s real and financial investment decisions and goals. 4. Advise and support a wide range of organisations (governmental and non-governmental) in evaluating their decisions. Intellectual skills are developed through the teaching and learning methods outlined above. Individual, formative and summative feedback is given to students on all work produced (including oral presentations in options modules and the Applied Project). The Corporate Finance module will assist students in the acquisition of skill B3. Frequent reference to research and consultancy findings are made to illustrate the ideas under discussion. Assessment is through regular seminar assignments, assessed coursework, unseen written examinations and the individual Research Project or Applied Project. C Practical Skills able to: 1. Write and present short reports and complete a substantive piece of research work. 2. Produce creative and realistic solutions to complex problems based on finance theory. 3. Prepare and analyse company financial accounts. 4. Use Matlab programming language to illustrate and examine concepts. 5. Execute econometric analysis of financial data. 6. Use Bloomberg and Reuters Eikon to access and study financial data sets. Practical skills are developed through the teaching and learning programme outlined above. To assist with skill C4 and C5, students are given classes during September to introduce them to the computer suite and software (Excel, Matlab). Students then use Bloomberg, Eikon and Matlab to complete coursework during the autumn and spring core modules. Performance in Matlab is usually assessed early in the autumn term in terms of coursework and a test, through the Financial Econometrics coursework and in Investments & Portfolio Management. D Transferable Skills able to: - 1. Communicate effectively in context through oral presentations, computer software, presentations and written reports. 2. Critically review evidence including its reliability, validity and significance. 3. Transfer techniques and solutions from one discipline to another. 4. Use Information and Communications technology; 5. Manage resources and time effectively in order to achieve intended goals; 6. Learn independently with open-mindedness and critical enquiry; 7. Learn effectively for the purpose of continuing professional development; 8. Work effectively as a team member; 9. Clearly identify criteria for success and evaluate his or her own performance against those criteria. Transferable skills are developed through the teaching and learning programme outlined above. To assist with skill D4, students are given classes during September to introduce them to key software (Excel, Matlab). The emphasis is on hands-on experience and revision of basic issues. Skill D5 is developed throughout the Programme within a framework of staged coursework deadlines and the split examination system. This skill is also developed through the individual Research Project or Applied Project report. Skill D8 is developed throughout September and through group coursework for core modules. During Page 4 of 11

6 The School aims to provide feedback to students on coursework within two weeks and to provide provisional examination grades six weeks from the examination date. With each returned coursework assignment, a written evaluation will be provided. General feedback to the cohort is provided on examination performance. Students will not receive individual examination feedback. Students will be provided with an alpha grade. The numerical mark will only be available on completion of the programme and will be released by Registry. Grades received during the year are deemed provisional until confirmed by the External Exam Board. Re-sit Policy Students who fail examinations will be provided with the opportunity to re-sit. Students may choose whether to re-sit failed examinations in the September re-sit period or with the next cohort. Permission to split the resit examinations between the re-sit period and the next academic year is at the discretion of the Programme Director. Students who need to re-sit examinations/resubmit their final project/report/afr will be required to pay a resit fee (unless they have had mitigating circumstances accepted to sit as a first attempt). Mitigating Circumstances Policy The Business School follows the College s Mitigating Circumstances Policy and Procedures Programme Structure Full-time Presession Term One Term Two Term Three Term Four Core Modules Modules 1 3 or 4 * Projects 1 * 3 or 4 electives depending on whether the student chooses a Research Project or Applied Project Assessment Dates & Deadlines Written Examinations Coursework Assessments Project Deadlines Practical Assessments October, December, March, June Continuous August N/A Assessment Structure Programme Component (Applied Project Route) ECTS Weighting Core Modules & s Component (7 x Core Modules, equally weighted PLUS 5 x foundation modules, zero weighted PLUS 3 x core on-line modules, zero weighted, PLUS 4 x electives, equally weighted) Applied Project Component (1 x applied financial report, equally weighted) Page 6 of 11

7 Total 100 Programme Component (Research Report Route) ECTS Weighting Core Modules & s Component (7 x Core Modules, equally weighted PLUS 5 x foundation modules, zero weighted PLUS 3 x core on-line modules, zero weighted, PLUS 3 x electives, equally weighted) Research Report Component (1 x research report, doubly weighted) Rules of Progression Not Applicable. This is a full-time one year programme Marking Scheme Total 100 All modules are equally weighted with the exception of the Research Project which carries a double weight. The Applied Project is single weighted and must be taken together with an additional elective. Core modules + s: 81 OR Core modules + s: 90 Research Project: 19 Applied Project: 10 Pass An average of 50 or above in each of the 2 components 1. Core modules (not including September foundation and online modules) 2. s & Research Project/Applied Project At least 40 in each examination; At least 50 in the Research Project or Applied Project; A pass mark for each of the Accounting, Ethics and Introduction to Finance modules; A pass mark in the September foundation modules (including a Pass in the Finance Industry module and an average of 50 or above across the remaining four modules, with a minimum mark of 40 in each individual element) Merit An average of 60 or above in each of the 2 components: 1. Core modules (not including September foundation and online modules) 2. s & Research Project/Applied Project At least 40 in each examination; At least 60 in the Research Project or Applied Project; A pass mark for each of the Accounting, Ethics and Introduction to Finance modules; A pass mark in the September foundation modules (including a Pass in the Finance Industry module and an average of 50 or above across the remaining four modules, with a minimum mark of 40 in each individual element) Distinction An average of 70 or above in each of the 2 components: 1. Core modules (not including September foundation and online modules) 2. s & Project/AFR At least 50 in all modules At least 40 in each examination At least 70 in the Research Project or Applied Financial Research Report; A pass mark for each of the Accounting, Ethics and Introduction to Finance modules; A pass mark in the September foundation modules (an average of 50 or above across the four modules, with a minimum mark of 40 in each individual element) Page 7 of 11

11 Supporting Information The Programme Handbook is available at: The Module Handbook is made available to students via the Hub once the module commences. Module descriptions are available in the Programme Handbook (link above). The programme s competency standards documents can be obtained from the Business School s Teaching & Quality Office. The College s entry requirements for postgraduate programmes can be found at: The College statement on pastoral care and welfare support is available at: Details of Departmental arrangements for pastoral care and welfare support is available in Student Programme Handbooks. The College s Quality & Enhancement Framework is available at: The programme is consistent with the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area which is available at: Indicators of Quality & Standards: Triple accredited (AMBA, EQUIS, AACSB International) The Business School is joint first for the percentage of research activity assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent (ie 4* and 3* work combined) in the 2014 Research Assessment Exercise. Independent review of the quality of the educational provision of the Business School by the Higher Education Funding Council of England s Quality Assessment team in 1994 achieving an Excellent grading. The Business School is joint first for the percentage of research activity assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent (ie 4* and 3* work combined) in the 2014 Research Assessment Exercise. Range of prizes awarded by Service and Industry for student achievement on the modules Membership of EFMD, the Association of Business Schools (ABS) and AACSB International Page 11 of 11

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